We get a lot of comments here at Dronethusiast of people who are looking for drones for beginners. Before you upgrade to a professional level drone that captures amazing footage and performs professional maneuvers, it can be a good idea to practice with one of these cheap beginner drones that did not cost you nearly as much.

Now that we’re into the first few months of the year, many consumers are searching for the cheap drones, and the offerings as of late are much more plentiful then they were just a year or two ago. Various manufacturers are giving it a go to get a corner (or any share) on this type of market, and many scores of excited owners are carrying home a brand new cheap beginner quadcopter.

The race for companies to build and manufacture affordable drones is nothing new: Since the release of even the Dji Phantom 2, there have been companies that have made it their priority to have drones on the shelves at under the $100 and $40 price point. Consumers have been thrilled to learn how to hover, dip, and land, and the last two years even brought about tiny micro drones that were under $25, even though there was no camera included.

Before we dig into the cheap drones, we have to show you some of our newest review articles. 2018 Black Friday drone deals is a new article where we review the best sales for Black friday 2018.

QUICK OVERVIEW: THE BEST CHEAP DRONES FOR 2018

Budget Camera Drone

Altair AA108

Camera:720P Realtime FPV

Range:100 Meters

Time:10 Minutes

Click For Lowest price

Our #1 Choice

Altair AA818 Hornet

Camera:720p HD camera

Range:150 Meters

Time:15 Minutes

Click For Lowest price

Cheap Long Range w/Camera

Tomahawk Drone

Camera:720p HD camera

Range:300 Meters

Time:17 Minutes

Click For Lowest price

Budget Long Range Drone

Blackhawk Drone

Camera:Compatible with GoPro

Range:300 Meters

Time:15Minutes

Click For Lowest price

Cheap FPV Drone

Hubsan X4 Quadcopter

Camera: 720P HD Real time Video Camera

Range: 50 – 100 Meters

Time: 7 Minutes

Click here for price

Cheap Mini Drone

FQ FQ777-124

Camera: M7 1000TVL camera

Range: 50 Meters

Time: 5-6 Minutes

Click here for price

There are a few things to keep in mind when looking for a best budget drone: on many models, you may not be getting that sturdy of a craft, but could still be having your hands on one that will be just fine if you begin your flight path inside. What makes a purchase a best beginner drone may just be that you like the look: most have flight times of around 7 minutes, and are just a super cool way of learning how to fly, and exploring which types of craft work best for them.

Even though some people would lament over and over that “You get what you pay for”, some of the cheap drones with camera on the market are excellent ways to immerse yourself in the hobby of piloting, and having a less expensive drone on hand is a good way to just get out and fly, and not worry about the possibility of damaging an expensive investment.

If you have children or nieces and nephews that seem interested in electronics and engineering, this is one of the coolest things you could ever present as a gift. When you do learn to use a cheap drone with a camera, your skill set could grow as you graduate into more advanced drones, and you could pursue careers such as pipeline surveying and delivery.

Best Cheap Drones & Drones for Beginners

Anyone on the hunt for a best beginner drone will enjoy an item that is ready to fly, and provides a solid opportunity to check out what it’s like to get a drone in the air, land it, and see what type of models they prefer.

Being on the lookout for the cheapest drone possible is not necessarily the worst thing you can do as a drone enthusiast: as long as you keep your expectations just a bit low, you may come out alright and have something to fly around that you’ll enjoy. The key is to go slow when you first get one out of the box, and not to let it be a speed race; if you are testing cheap drones over and over to see how they will handle crashes, you may not get your wish of having a long-lasting possession!

#1 Best Budget Camera Drone – Altair Aerial AA108 Drone

They even have an Altair Video Tutorials page that helps you get started. Email Altair Inc at help@altairaerial.com

The Altair Aerial AA108 is a new drone on the market that covers all the bases and comes in at a great sub $129.00 price tag. This drone is very easy to fly due to the Altitude Hold andHeadless mode functions, which are great for beginners and kids. If you’re looking for a cheap drone that is an easy way to get started as a drone pilot, this is the drone for you.

The AA108 is made with high durability manufacturing, meaning it’s not going to break easily if you have an accident. It’s also very stable in the air and you can switch between three flight modes, 1 for beginners, 2 intermediate and 3 for advanced flyers. For the $129.00 price you’re also getting great value because of the long 10 minute flight time and 100 meter range. It really is a very solid drone for all ages.

The Altair company is based in Lincoln, NE. We actually did a full review of this drone and you can read about it here. The founder Matt Cookson and I spoke on the phone and he explained his plan to offer excellent customer service as one of the primary perks for the Altair drone. It seems like they’re doing a good job because when I called their customer service number he was the one who actually answered the phone, not some rep over in China!

AA108 Video

Alltogether the Altaier Aerial AA108 is the best affordable drone you can buy at this price point. It checks all the boxes as far as tech specs and flight time goes, and with an added bonus of having an American based headquarters and customer service.

Altair 818 Hornet Drone

This is another fantastic choice for a drone that won’t break the bank but which nonetheless comes with a wide array of features. The A818 Plus is an updated version of the U818a that’s especially good for beginners, and sold by Altair Aerial, a company that provides top tier customer service. This version of the drone has a new shape that balances the weight evenly, allowing for an incredibly stable hover (further improved by the new inclusion of a hovering mode feature.) It also has longer landing gear and thicker prop guards, which means that it’s very durable. This is something that’s incredibly important for beginners and often overlooked – you’re all but guaranteed to crash the aircraft a few times when you’re learning how to fly it, so it’s important to choose a drone that can take a hit or two.

But one of the best features of the A818 Plus is the extra-long battery life – up to 15 minutes off a single battery. Sure – that may not sound too impressive to fans of the DJI line, but for less than $200 it’s practically unheard of. It’s a really great feature and shows why the A818 Plus deserves such a high spot on this list.

Additionally this drone is made by Altair Aerial, a company that provides fantastic customer service, you can read more about them at their website.

•Long landing gear and stable cover shape make the drone more stable and more easy-to-use

• FlyingSee App by UDI RC – For FPV flight in Realtime

Altair Aerial Blackhawk

For only $119 you’re getting an amazing drone at an amazing price! Get super fast and free shipping when you order the Blackhawk from AltairAerial.com, or you can also see Best Price at Amazon. The Blackhawk is a more advanced level quad with 15-17 Minutes of Flight time and 300-500 Meter Range!

If you’ve been looking for a cheap drone that knocks it out of the park when it comes to durability and speed, you really need to check out the Altair Aerial Blackhawk. We’re big fans of other offerings from Altair Aerial and the Blackhawk is their most advanced quadcopter yet. This drone is super fast, has a flight time of up to 15 minutes, and it can go a long way for a drone in this price range (300 Meters).

Customers looking to move up from the Altair Aerial AA108 and 818 Hornet will love this heavy duty drone for its stability and speed. The Blackhawk doesn’t utilize altitude hold which unlocks the potential for extreme control! The ability to go vertical and descend super fast will give you that racing feel while you’re flying! While a camera does not come with the Blackhawk, it is equipped to handle a GoPro or similar camera when you’re ready to capture the action.

Force1 UFO 3000 LED Quadcopter

Losing a drone from flying in low visibility and not being able to find it later on is no longer a problem, in this case. The blue and green vibrant LED lights on this drone can be seen from incredible distances, but that’s not all that it has to offer.

It was designed with beginner drones in mind through offering precision piloting, multiple flight modes, added stability, and all other aspects aside from the visibility factor.

Here are some quick features and specs that the Force1 UFO 3000 boasts.

• 3D stunts and 360° flips at a push of a single button

• Includes Low and High speed modes and 3 flight modes with a streamlined, lightweight design for high-speed aerodynamics

• Comes with a bonus 3.7V LiPo battery for double your flight time, each lasting up to 9 minutes

The Hubsan X4 H107L 4 channel 2.4ghz RC Quadcopter

This is a fun palm-sized affordable drone that you can have a blast with indoors or out. The batteries are included, and this is one choice out there that is strong in the best beginner drone category, and a very popular pick.

This drone comes with a USB connector to charge it, and it is ready to fly out of the box with everything needed except the batteries for the controller. This one is known to be fast and agile, and picking up extra batteries right away is a great idea to get a bit more flight time out of it. Generally in the “Toy quad” category, this is actually pretty stable for the price, and fun to fly all-around.

Here are some basic specs on this model, to let you know a bit about it before you buy: this is a pretty reliable drone for the price.

The Holy Stone HS170 Predator Rc Affordable Drone

This is a sleek and powerful option for affordable drones: many customers are calling it their favorite for the price. This one actually has quite a bit of speed, and is a blast to fly around at the drop of a hat.

It’s controller is a pretty standard Xbox-style format, and the HS170 Predator can fly for around 8 minutes on one charge. You can fly more than one of these at once because of the built in anti-interference system, and there are 6 aa batteries required. One word of caution is that there are more than 1 reviews stating that it just stopped working suddenly: when this happens with any electronics product, it is hard to say if it will happen in large numbers or not. Here are some stats on the HS170 that will allow you to decide whether or not you want to purchase.

• Headless security system enables any level of players to fly

• GHz technology is present for anti-interference

• Craft has 6-Axis Gyro stabilization system

• Has about 6-8 minutes flight time, and 60-80 minutes flying time

• No FAA registration required for this affordable drone

• Headless mode brings more confidence to beginners

• Colorful LED lights make it very easy to identify front and back

• Affordable Drone has 3 different speed modes for beginners on up to advanced pilots

This is another entry in the cheap quadcopter category. This model has throw-in-the-air startup capabilities, and a pretty cool searching light for flying in the dark. When it arrives it’s ready to fly after a full charge and getting the batteries ready, and the flight time is around 7 minutes after an hour-long charge.

Of the 3 flight modes offered, the highest is pretty challenging for the lower-priced drone category, and while it looks pretty large in the photos, still is situated in the much smaller side of the cheap drone group. The Hubsan X4 is quite possibly one of the most popular beginner drones on the market, and this is one of the models that is compared quite closely to it.

Here are some of the technical specs on the Golden X4, which is priced incredibly low on Amazon, and is a great starter drone to get anyone accustomed to the fun of flying.

Cheap Photo Drones

As consumers look for options for the best camera drone under $100, 2018 looks to be a pretty good year. Some manufacturers have taken cues from DJI as to how users may want the controller to look, and some have went off on their own tangents a bit as far as sleek, game-controller looking designs.

Cheap quadcopters with cameras are a great way to get used to traversing over different types of land, and using the features that allow you to see what higher-grade models offer.

Holy Stone F181C With HD Camera

You don’t always have to invest in an expensive drone if you’re looking for a cheap drone with camera. This one is actually one of many that give the professional drones a run for their money. The HD camera is already a wonder in itself, never mind all of the great features and specs that come with it.

Right off the bat, you get One Key 360-Degree 4-Way Flips, Continuous Roll, Altitude Hold, One Key Return to Home, One Key Engine Start, One Key Landing and even the Headless Security System for features. All of the included features make it easy for someone who’s entirely new to the world to drones to get the hang of the more complicated features at their own pace.

The Altitude Hold feature is actually an upgraded version from the same model, yet it’s an inexpensive cheap drone with an HD camera, that will make you feel like you’re investing in a super high-quality drone without paying a fortune.

Here are some of the features and specs that the Holy Stone F181C With HD Camera has to offer:

• It uses a 720p HD camera with 1280x720p video resolution

• Has a total of 4 different speed control modes for beginners and experts alike

• You’re able to choose from Left and Right Hand Operation modes in accordance with your preference

• Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency

• Includes a controllable LED light

• Uses a 6-axis gyro stabilization system

• Takes a 3.7V 750mAh LiPo battery

• Has a maximum transmission range of between 50 to 100 meters

• Requires 4 1.5V AA batteries that are not included

• Comes with a 4GB Micro SD card and a bonus battery

• Has a maximum flight time of between 7 to 10 minutes

Unfortunately, it does not have FPV and cannot be connected with your smartphone or other smart device, but it’s still an awesome cheap drone with an HD camera!

The UDI U818A HD+Quadcopter

This is a great choice for the cheap drone with camera category: It has features such as a return home function, HD camera, and the standard 6-axis gyro stability that helps many cheap drones fly with ease.

At this time, this is NOT a drone that requires FAA registration, and there are also 2 lipo batteries included as a bonus. The charging time is around 90-120 minutes, and the flight duration is 7-9 minutes.

Here are some of the technical features of the UDI U818A: This inexpensive drone is a bit wider and bulkier than some, but still a very popular choice due to its durability and ease of handling.

• Movie resolution is now upgraded to 280* 720 at 30 frames per second

• Low battery alarm broadcasts from transmitter

• Very easy to start and stop recording with one-touch video button

• Frequency: 2.4 GHz

Known as a very light quadcopter, this one may start to drift with winds that are even in the 7 MPH range. Begin the video recorder before you take off to make things more simple, and enjoy flying one of the best and cheapest drone options out there.

The X5C RC Drone with HD Camera

This is a great way of taking pictures outside from above in 720p video, and enjoying the high-resolution pictures you can glean of landscapes, real estate, seasons changing, and any other sites that strike your interest.

This is a good contender for a best budget drone because it definitely does not have to be registered with the FAA, and it even has a microphone too. You definitely will want to start in beginner flight mode, as this will allow you a bit of leeway to get used to its movement.

It does not have a “return to home” function, but for the price, has a decent camera, and high ranking reviews from many users. The transmitter will warn you of low battery, and the weight of this inexpensive drone is around 3.8 ounces. Here are some of the key features that will allow you to make the best purchasing decision:

• Headless mode is great for beginners, and reduces possibility of crashing while learning

The DBPOWER MJX X400W FPV Drone With WiFi Camera

This is a fun drone in the cheap drones category that is in the higher end of the low-priced element. What’s pretty cool about this one is that it is where you begin to be introduced to the awesome things you can do with a partner app, and see what the inexpensive drone sees on the mobile device of your choice.

With a 3D Split Screen Display, you can use the VR headset to see the world in a completely modern way, and this just adds to the excitement you get from this device. This best budget drone does not need to be registered with the FAA, and its weight is under 1.6 lbs. It has been said to be able to take a beating during many reviews, and has a pretty awesome white underwater-stealth looking appearance.

Here are some of the specs and feature on the MJX X400W, so you can make a decision regarding whether or not it will be your next drone.

The H6 Quadcopter RC Helicopter

This is a very cool drone under $100 that is equipped with an HD camera, and does a great job of being wind resistant for a drone in this price point. We always like to see drones in the inexpensive category be able to hand launch in the air, and this is one that is deemed definitely pretty easy to fly.

This is a pretty compact-sized drone, sitting at 5.25” by 5.25”. There are crash guards installed, and it records to SD card, so the video is not really able to be viewed during flight. This may prevent many pilots from wanting it, but it is still known for it’s sturdy handling, and is a good model to learn the basics of flight with.

Here are some specifications of the H6 quadcopter, so you can decide if it is one you want to add to your collection.

• Has a 720 p HD camera: this records to SD card for later viewing

• Very high wind resistant: high stability designed for indoor and outdoor flight

The U28W FPV Best Budget Drone with altitude hold and HD camera

This is an example of a ready to fly drone that you can purchase in the lower priced category that is a great one to use with a tablet or smartphone. Absolutely one of the best beginner drones out there that still has many of the latest features that you see on higher-end models.

Having an altitude hold function is one of the things about this one that makes it very easy to fly: beginners can use this to their advantage, and not have to fret about the drone continuously dipping up and down. It also has features such as one-touch takeoff and landing, and you can even program a custom route to have it follow. These features alone are usually found on models that are much higher-end, and this is why we have no choice but to heartily recommend this one.

Here are some specs and features on the U28W FPV Drone, so you can use these to your benefit when making a decision.

JJRC H11WH

Not only are you getting a 2.0MP HD camera, but you’re also getting the full 720p FPV experience along with it. It comes with a bountiful amount of features and a wide variety of specs that we think you’ll find are all incredibly impressive.

This cheap drone with HD camera features FPV, Altitude Hold, One Key to Reset, One Key Return to Home, Ascend and Descend, Left and Right Side-Fly, 360-Degree Roll and Emergency Stop. The overall high-quality construction and design is one that is dressed to impress and go the extra mile.

Here are the features and the specs that make the JJRC H11WH what it is:

• Takes a 1100mAh LiPo battery and 3 AAA batteries, all are not included

• Has a maximum transmission range of up to 60 meters

• Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency with up to 4 channels

• Has a controllable LED light

• Uses a 2.0MP HD camera with 720p FPV

It’s a little unclear as to whether or not the 1100mAh LiPo is actually included or not, one section says that it is while another says it’s not, but picking up one, even if it’s an extra if it’s actually included, is never a bad idea!

Cheap FPV Drones

The race has been on for the past year to find the ultimate FPV drone under $100: many pilots know how awesome and feature-filled drones such as the Dji Phantom 4 are, but they are in a completely different price range. For these types of drones, the craft is driven or piloted remotely from a first-person perspective, and video is fed to a video monitor, tablet, or goggles.

When consumer drones first began popular about 3 years ago, there were next to no options in this category. Cheap FPV drones were not necessarily the rage, because many brands were just beginning to release drones in the under 100$ category that had just 8 minute flight time, but no camera. Here are a few that we recommend, that will get you into the swing of gleaning video, but not break the bank.

The Hubsan X4 Quadcopter with FPV Camera Toy best Budget Drone

This is a drone at a very reasonable price that does a great job of offering FPV technology. It is lightweight, and offers the standard 7 minute flight time with around 45 min. charging time. We like how the transmitter has a built-in 4.3” screen, and that alone for this price almost softens the blow of the drone only having a 480p camera.

Make sure you install the rotor shield, as this will help you greatly when it comes to crashes. Some users claim that the way the drone handles and sturdiness for its size are great for the price, but the video is not even worth glancing at. Still, its a solid product from a well-trusted brand that allows you the ability to do some great maneuvers, and not spend a fortune.

Here are some specs on the Hubsan X4 Quad: we think this is an all-around great drone, and that almost anyone would be interested in purchasing it.

• Control Distance: 50-100 Meters, with live video distance around 100 meters

• Latest 6-axis flight control system with adjustable gyro sensitivity

Syma Toys X5C-1

This is an upgraded version of the original X5C-1, which has a sleek, sophisticated look that’s made better by the awesome HD camera. This cheap drone with HD camera has the right specs, the perfect amount of features, and a look that will have anyone who sees it asking questions and looking to learn more about it.

Because it’s an upgraded version, it has new, enhanced Anti-Collision and Anti-Fall Performance features. It also able to perform aerial rolls and automatic stabilization due to the enhanced, upgraded gyro stabilization system.

Here are the impressive features and specs of the Syma Toys X5C-1:

• Has a maximum flight time of between 6 to 8 minutes

• Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency with up to 4 channels

• Features an upgraded 6-axis gyro stabilization system

• Takes a 3.7V 500mAh LiPo battery

• Has a protective circle made of highly elastic plastic that prevents the blades from wearing out or taking damage

• Uses an onboard HD camera

The upgraded version is an enhanced masterpiece that you can’t go wrong with investing in.

U818A Wifi FPV Quadcopter Drone

This is an FPV drone with a bit of a different look: The quadcopters have circular guards above them, and it does give the budget drone an entirely unique appearance. It has features such as headless mode, and you can capture 720p video with the built-in camera.

You can mount your smart device on top of the controller, and this drone is also VR headset compatible. The 4 GB of micro SD storage is a definite bonus, and this drone’s weight will make it a bit more stable in wind. If you are ok with the look, (which probably can grow on any pilot), this is a pretty good example of what’s available in the inexpensive drones category for FPV.

Hear are some stats on the U818A: this is a pretty awesome budget drone, and the features such as custom flight mode will render it selling itself easy to many pilots.

The Focus FPV Drone with 720p Camera

This drone gets a few extra points for one thing in our book: it has a very unique controller design. Instead of having the typical flattened-out bottom end, it is rounded further out than usual, and there is still the ability to watch 5.8 Ghz FPV right on the controller’s screen.

The drone itself has a pretty interesting shape: the frame has four jutted-out supporters for the props that make it kind of resemble a spider or watercraft. It comes with an extra battery, and functions such as return home allow you to retrieve the drone without fear of loss. The camera even has a fish eye lens, and this is a pretty sturdy craft.

Here are some specs on the Focus FPV drone: this is another one that has completely strayed from trying to imitate the looks of the Dji product line, and the results are actually pretty striking.

• FPV with live video feed, through 5.8 Ghz display mode

• Return home function brings the drone home with the push of a button

This has a few upper-end features that make it differ just slightly from the U818A defined earlier in this article. The drone is pretty much the same model, but this package includes a power bank along with the extra battery, which is quintessential for charging on the go.

You still get features such as altitude hold, custom route mode, and a bonus VR headset included. If you were a fan of the slightly different design and appearance of the U818A, you can simply just consider this package an upgrade. You still are capturing 720 p aerial photos, and there are great features such as one button take off, one button landing, and custom route mode.

Here are some specs on the U818A Wifi FPV Drone: you’ll enjoy taking this one up in the skies for surveying, learning how to do stunts, and much more.

• Altitude Hold makes this an easy one for beginners to start with: helps stabilize the drone for aerial photography while in flight

• Custom Route Mode allows the pilot to trace the desired flight path on the mobile app screen, and the drone will follow along the path without assistance

• FPV with VR headset compatibility makes watching live video a cinch, and the bonus VR headset is included

• Captures HD aerial photos and videos in crips 720p with built in 2MP camera

• With this package, you get a bonus second battery and power bank, to quadruple your flight time

• One-button take-off and landing allows the drone to fly down slowly, landing gently on the ground before motors kill

The Force 1 U45 Blue Jay WiFi FPV Quadcopter Drone

This is a neat and fun to use number that is cloaked in black, with a cool looking black and blue transmitter that mounts a smartphone on top for viewing. This drone has a lot of the same functions as the one we just reviewed, but the look is honestly quite a bit more modern.

You still get to enjoy features such as 360 flips and tricks, 6-axis gyro for stability, wind resistance, and easy maneuverability. This drone also comes with a 4 GB ScanDisk Micro SD Card, and the camera is manually adjustable for the ability to capture the best picture possible. The controller design and overall packaging of this number make it one of the best we’ve seen in this price category, and we applaud the modern design.

Here are some stats about this drone that allow you to have a good idea about what it is capable of.

• Has FPV with VR headset Compatibility: you can watch live video feel of your flight from Iphone or Android smart device

• Altitude Hold Function allows for ease of use when beginners want to fly, and makes control simple

• One Touch Takeoff and Landing: the drone automatically hovers at a set altitude after take off and before landing, making it easy to control and maneuver, and helps with the issue of a potentially lost drone

• Custom Route Mode: traces the desired flight path on the mobile app screen, and the drone will take this path without assistance

• You can capture 720p HD aerial photos and videos with 2 MP camera, and sync it directly to the controller

Best Cheap Smaller Drones

A cheap mini drone can be a super fun way to get kids interested in engineering, have fun indoors during the winter months, and learn the controls before you take charge of a much bigger drone. Finding a cheap micro drone on the market will take you a bit of research, and reading reviews beyond this one can help you analyze if there are some that just don’t cut it in terms of how well they are built.

The fun you can have with a cheap quadcopter is endless: some of our other features have spotlighted how you can play numerous pranks, scare and surprise those around you, and sneak up on unsuspecting family members on the couch. One of the most fun things about them is that you get a peek at a smaller version of drones that rule the skies can do, and you get to learn your maneuvers to build up your skills before purchasing a larger one.

Eachine X6 2.4G 4CH 6 Axis RC Hexacopter

This hexacopter has a 2MP camera with a micro SD slot, and is known for having a bit longer of a flight time than others in the good cheap drones category, at about 11 minutes in the air. It’s a little bit bigger than many common nanoquads on the market, and the look is not one that has an exposed-board feel: the arms light up to give it a unique flair.

The prop guards serve their purpose very well: we took this little guy up to about 30 feet in the air where we encountered a tree limb, and it fell down to the ground but still was able to fly again right away. The controller may seem a bit small to some, but it has a snugness to it that some of the rectangular models do not, and will seem a bit like a bit smaller of a Super Nintendo remote version.

Here are some of the technical specs of the Eachine X6; check them out and see if this is going to be the cheap drone with camera that you add to your collection this week.

• Battery: 3.7V

• Frequency: 2.4GHz

• Flight time: 10-12 minutes

• Unit has 2MP camera

• Battery charge time: 40 minutes

• 6-axis gyro for improved stability and handling

• Control range: 100m

The transmitter uses the same battery as the quad, so some pilots appreciate the fact that you get both, others like just buying disposable batteries for the controller and using the rechargeables for this cheap good drone. Because of the extended flight time and cool shape, many pilots out there will be making this purchase this summer.

FQ FQ777-124 Pocket Drone

This drone is absolutely of the tiniest type you can imagine, and it is literally one of the cheapest drone options on the market. Having the one-touch return is awesome for such a little machine, because even if you are trying to navigate indoors, there’s a lot that can happen in even the most open of quarters.

Since the designers knew that all ages and skill levels may be using this drone, the rotor protector is a big plus, and helps bystanders not get stung suddenly by it as well. There are pretty cool LED lights on this tiny drone, and the fact that it has landing skids bodes well for it because its just the kind of small starter drone that WILL be abused heavily sooner or later.

Here are some of the specs on the FQ-FQ777 that will help you decide on whether or not you want to make it your latest carry-on addition for fun.

• 4GHz frequency

• 6-axis Gyro

• Size is 7 X 7 X 2.7cm

• Weight: .46 ounces

• Charging time: 20 mins

• Control distance: 50 meters

• Batteries for the quad are 3.7 V 100 MAH and are included

• Batteries for Transmitter are 4x AA batteries and are not included

One thing that’s great about this drone is that it’s really only double the price of what some retailers would sell for just a high-quality USB charging device. It’s really all about pure fun in a small package, and is perfect for those in cold climates that want something to fly around a gym or basement.

The Hover-Way 6-axis 2.4 Ghz Aerial Micro Drone

This is one of the smallest that exists on the market, and will be a bundle of fun for you and the entire family. You get about a 6 minute flight time with a 35 minute recharging time, and there is sync-lock technology that allows you to fly more than one of these little numbers at a time in the same room.

You do receive replacement blades with the kit, which you may put to use immediately, since it can take just a bit to get used to the way that these handle. This would be a fun one for an experienced pilot to use that just wanted to blow some steam off indoors, or a great first purchase for someone who wants to really get into drones full-force during the future.

Here are some specs and features of the Hover-way 6-axis micro drone: scanning over these can let you know if you want to purchase this incredibly fun little quad during 2018.

JJRC H20C

With WiFi FPV, a 2MP HD camera, and a price that’s more than a bargain, you can’t go wrong investing in this cheap drone with an HD camera. Though the price isn’t a large one, the HD camera has impressive specs.

It features One Key Return to Home, 3D Flips & Rolls, Hover, WiFi FPV and Headless Mode. Compared to the others on our list, the amount of features it has a little short, but fear not – it comes with impressive specs that make it an awesome little drone.

Here are the features and the specs of the JJRC H20C:

• Uses a 2.4GHz transmission frequency with up to 4 channels

• Takes a 3.7V 380mAh LiPo battery

• Weighs less than a pound

• Has a maximum flight time of up to 5 minutes

• Uses a 2.0MP HD camera

• Has a maximum transmission range of up to 60 meters

• Uses a 6-axis gyro stabilization system

• Has automatic LED lighting

• Uses 6 propellers

This hidden gem is one that shouldn’t be ignored if you’re looking for a simple, cheap drone with HD camera. This little pocket drone is a lot more powerful than you’d think.

Sky Viper m500

Nano drones are great for indoor and outdoor flight, especially if they come with an onboard HD camera and have a great price to go with it. Though there are a few nano drones that don’t fare that well in outdoor environments, especially if it’s a windy day, this one is still able to hold it down and fly perfectly.

It features One Touch Stunts, One Touch Flips, Auto Flight, Auto Hover and Auto Land. It has a total size of less than 2”, minus the blades, and weighs less than 9 ounces – no FAA registration required!

Here are the specs and features that make the Sky Viper m500 what it is:

• Uses a 6-axis gyro stabilization

• Has a number of flight sensitivity modes

• Includes a durable body and removable blade guards

Interestingly enough, it was nominated for Toy of the Year during 2016, which proves how much of a quality cheap drone with camera it is.

The Hubsan H111 Q4 Nano Drone Quadcopter

This is a very small bundle of fun. This is a blue and white smaller model that we rank high for it’s toughness in design: for the size, it may be about the most durable on the market. There is also a built-in gyroscope for stability, and the flight time is right at 5 minutes.

It is 4-channel, very beginner-friendly quad with a stealth appearance, that is most likely the sturdiest micro quad on the market. The crash guard will help make sure that you won’t have any misfortune, and extra propellers and motor are pretty easy to find in case you need replacements.

Here are some stats and notable features on this little bundle of power that you can check out if you are considering immediate purchase for hours of fun.

• Features 360 degree flips/rolls for fun with stunts

• USB charger is included

• Controller is 2.4Ghz

• USB charger and 4 spare blades are included

• Consists of very tough 1-piece frame, and built-in gyroscope for stability

• Measures approx. 2” by 2”, charge time is 20 minutes, flight time is 5 minutes

FAQ’s For Cheap Beginner Drones

A drone is technically a flying vehicle, that is not manned by any type of pilot. Their use has grown exponentially over the last few years, and many have enjoyed the hobby they have discovered.

What are quadcopters?

The quadcopter is a type of good cheap drone that has four rotors. You can hear them spinning on most models, and they make up a majority of the drones for beginners available now on the market.

Can you find these cheap?

You can absolutely find good cheap drones and quadcopters for low prices. The most exciting thing as of late is that the budget drones that have higher-quality cameras have sunk

a bit in price, making gathering of overhead property more inexpensive in the long run.

What Kinds of Cheap Drones are on the market?

Anyone who is on the hunt for the best budget drone they can find will be glad to see that there are numerous options. Micro budget drones are for the most part most fun when used around the house, and you need to be careful with them as they can completely blow away. In the more inexpensive category, you can find copters that have a 720p camera,which gives you some good practice hours for image gathering from above.

What is the Cheapest Drone?

You may be able to find a few that get a bit lower than this, but the JJRC 2.4ghz RC Quadcopter pictured here is just $9.95. It is a very tiny quad that gives you about 5 minutes of flight time, and has a control distance of about 30m.

Typically Where are Cheap Drones Manufactured?

The majority of the cheap quadcopter options you locate on websites such as Ebay and Amazon are manufactured in Taiwan, and China. Hubsan, which is one of the manufacturers who have a pretty broad range of drones for beginners, are made in China.

What are the Return Policies on Cheap Drones?

Return policies on the cheapest drone options out there tend to seem strict, but you simply need to abide by protocol, and act quickly. One good plan is to purchase buying protection plans directly from the manufacturer, since many of the retailers such as Wal-mart and Best Buy only provide options such as a 15-day return window, even if the equipment is damaged.

Do the Manufacturers Stand By their Products if they Break?

Some portals such as Tmart.com will allow you to return products for up to 180 days: what the manufacturer is going to check for most commonly is if the damage was caused in any way by the user. Generally speaking, if you order a product from Amazon.com, they will take returns within 30 days, and will ship a replacement item if you receive one that is damaged or defective. Sometimes it’s just the transmitter or batteries, and sometimes it may be the drone itself.

Mike is an online entrepreneur and digital marketing specialist who also loves flying drones. He has owned and managed Dronethusiast since 2015 and enjoys writing reviews and analyzing different topics in the fast moving Drone technology space. Along with the editorial team at Dronethusiast Mike spends hundreds of hours each year analyzing and studying different drones and their tech specs to help consumers find the best products for their needs. Contact Mike by using the Dronethusiast.com Contact page or reach out at mike@dronethusiast.com.

RSS feeds

YouTube channel FliteTest has released a new video in which they design, build and test a real-life version of Thor’s famous hammer, Mjölnir. Thor is the chiselled Norse god of thunder as well as the star of more Marvel movies than you can shake a giant flying hammer at. Those familiar with his character will know […]

Researchers at Yale University have developed a UAV which uses nature-inspired robotic talons to “perch and rest” in places that would normally be inaccessible. The group, led by Kaiyu Hang, were looking to make drones that fly in a more energy efficient manner. They observed how birds and bats use structures to conserve their energy when […]

Today Kickstarter is hosting the launch of a new mind-controlled drone and headset. Chinese company EEGSmart have developed brain-machine interface (BMI) technology which they intend to market to the masses through their UDrone mini-quad and UMind Lite headset. A year ago we brought you a story about drones you can control with your mind on display […]

President Donald Trump’s administration has reversed an Obama era policy requiring US intelligence services to report the number of civilians killed by American drones. On March 6, Trump signed an executive order revoking the requirement for intelligence agencies to publicly announce the number of non-combatants killed by US drone strikes or other attacks on terrorist […]

Engineers who run a ‘drone hacking’ website say that software designed to prevent drones from flying near airports is very easy to bypass. Drone producers, such as Chinese giant DJI, produce UAVs with inbuilt geofencing software which creates ‘virtual walls’ stopping crafts from being able to enter restricted air space near airports or military bases. There […]

The world’s largest agricultural drone fleet is transforming the way farmers manage their crops. Through a collaboration with Corteva Agriscience™, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, DroneDeploy’s advanced mapping software is powering Corteva Agriscience’s fleet of more than 400 DJI drones across the company’s global teams, including:

Spanning three continents, DroneDeploy’s Live Map technology provides Corteva Agriscience’s UAV fleet of DJI drones with immediate insights to diagnose and correct agronomic, disease, and pest concerns, as well as to suggest locations for optimal product placement.

Agriculture may be as old as civilization itself, but thanks to new technologies that make it easier to monitor crops and maximize yields, the industry remains on the cutting edge. In less than 15 minutes, advanced UAV technology can survey a 160-acre field to identify variations in plant soil and health, giving farmers direct access to real-time aerial views and data to help make informed agronomic decisions. The result is a full-scale drone operation that gives agronomists and contract seed growers the ability to make timely determinations that directly impact seed yields and quality.

DroneDeploy’s Live Map technology provides real-time crop insights that enable growers to take immediate agronomic actions in the field. Whether it’s identifying an area that lacks irrigation or a particular crop that’s sprouting better (or worse) than expected, agricultural UAVs enable farmers to course correct issues through powerful, data-driven insights. Once drone fleets are ready to be deployed to field teams, drone operators undergo training to determine how to harness the power of aerial technology and ensure that operations adhere to local aviation regulations.

Utilizing UAVs developed by DJI, the collaboration between Corteva Agriscience and DroneDeploy brings some of the world’s most powerful agriscience solutions together with the world’s leading commercial drones and commercial drone software. Corteva Agriscience’s portfolio of products includes some of the world’s most recognizable brands in agriculture, including Pioneer, Brevant seeds, and Encirca and Granular, as well as Crop Protection products developed through active chemistry and technology.

DJI, the world leader in commercial and civilian drones, makes up more than 70% of the drone market and offers a wide variety of UAV products across many different industries. Combined with DroneDeploy’s user-friendly platform for real-time sharable drone maps and 3D models, farmers and agronomists across the globe will be able to carry out data-driven actions to keep fields full, healthy, and ready for seasons to come.

Where to Learn MoreLearn more about the improvements to the DroneDeploy Map Engine.Explore the DroneDeploy App Market to see more than 80 apps you can use today to generate insights with drone data.eBook: Drones in Agriculture

Be sure to read our latest eBook, The Ultimate Guide to Drones on the Farm.

In our previous post, we discuss the many ways you can begin using drones to improve inspections in the oil and gas sector. In this post, we take a look at the impact drones have on operations—and why it’s time you should consider investing in a drone program.

Drones provide O&G companies many benefits, including cost savings, improved communication, a safer work environment, and more accurate data. Read on to explore the key ways drones can transform your workflows.

Inspecting O&G infrastructure and gathering critical data with drones cost substantially less than traditional inspection methods that require ground crews or manned flights. Drones are tough birds and can withstand harsh temperatures and other conditions. They get much closer to infrastructure than a helicopter or airplane, providing better visuals and data. Drones also minimize downtime by avoiding the need to shut down operations for inspections and by catching leaks and other maintenance issues early, lowering remediation costs.

Drones enable employees to conduct inspection and monitoring tasks without exposing themselves to the typical dangers of O&G operations. As a result, work hours lost due to injuries decline, medical expenses and insurance costs shrink, and the number of workplace events reported to OSHA and other regulatory agencies drop.

Safer Work Environments

Manual infrastructure inspections are often dangerous. For example, inspectors at wells and offshore rigs must climb up and down ladders and along catwalks — and even use cranes or harnesses and rappelling equipment to reach equipment. Inspectors sometimes must work in close proximity to harmful chemicals and dangerous machinery.

Drones perform inspections without risking employee safety. They’re particularly useful for inspections after blowouts or natural disasters — or when sending a ground crew to a site may be difficult, costly or unsafe.

Better, More Accurate Data

Drones provide a flexible platform for a wide range of cameras and sensors. They can collect data needed for situations requiring real-time solutions or store data for later analysis. Businesses can easily integrate digitized mapping information and other data from drone flights into analytical and AI solutions for advanced processing. For example, software solutions use topographical and geological data gathered by drones to create models that help identify promising oil and gas drill sites.

Not only do drones gather information more efficiently than human inspectors, the digital data enables employees to make better, data-driven decisions. This drastically reduces downtime, catches conflicts and issues faster, and helps keep your operation running like the well-oiled machine that it is.

Superior Communication

The remote nature of oil and gas work often requires operators to communicate with workers on sites around the world. This can present a challenge to managers and engineers working from the headquarters and collaborating with the boots on the ground. But drones can make things easier. Workers on the ground can fly drones on their site and upload the data to the cloud where back office managers can review and coordinate further inspection or follow ups — all without leaving the desk chair. Using software such as DroneDeploy makes it easy for the back office to markup maps or drop in annotations in real time so that inspectors can check on pressure points, leaks, or other potential issues.

Where to Learn More

The latest drone technology — like aerial mapping, thermal imaging, and digital terrain modeling — gives you a rich set of data to streamline your workflows and generate real-time insights.

A free guide to measuring stockpiles and gathering accurate inventory counts with UAVs.

Whether you work in the construction, mining, or aggregates sectors, stockpile management is a critical requirement on any job site. But measuring stockpiles can be unsafe, time-consuming, and expensive. This puts you in a difficult position. You need accurate data to run your business operations, but you shouldn’t have to send your survey team into the field for hours to clamber across stockpiles on a dangerous job site.

What if you could gather the same survey data in minutes from the safety of the ground, all while achieving higher accuracy and freeing up your survey team to focus on other high-priority projects? Sound too good to be true? Nope. Drones can help.

While you may be familiar with drone photography, drones are also a trusted tool for surveying and measurement. They eliminate many of the challenges companies face with traditional survey solutions. And drones paired with powerful photogrammetry software from DroneDeploy can help lower your data collection costs, increase accuracy, save you time, and keep your team out of harm’s way — all without having to hire an entire survey team or invest in expensive laser or lidar hardware.

“Everyone should be using drones for stockpile analysis. It’s miles ahead of standard surveying.” — Tecia White, President at Whitewater Hydrogeology Ltd.Read the full case study

Over the last 4 years, our team has worked with thousands of customers measuring stockpiles with drones. In that time, we’ve learned the techniques that produce highly-accurate results that our customers expect from DroneDeploy.

In our latest eBook, we take a deep dive into the stockpile measurement workflow using DroneDeploy—covering best practices and answers to the most frequently asked questions from our customers.

The best practices for flying, processing, and analyzing stockpiles with DroneDeployHow to get precise volume measurements and generate instant stockpile reportsHow to achieve high degrees of measurement accuracy and why it mattersThe most common app integrations for stockpile management used by DroneDeploy customersHow three innovative companies have used DroneDeploy’s stockpile measurement tools to cut costs, save time, and improve safety on their job sitesWhere to Learn More

Some of the largest oil and gas companies around the world now deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), better known as drones, to address a wide variety of operational challenges. This rapidly improving technology, along with advances in big data and artificial intelligence, is poised to transform the O&G industry in the coming years.

The aerial intelligence provided by drones offers several key benefits, including safer inspections and helping companies comply with regulatory requirements — while saving them millions of dollars in labor, remediation, and other costs.

Drones are the perfect solution for conducting visual inspections of infrastructure and gathering extensive data. An increasing number of O&G companies use drones to perform three basic industry functions — pipeline inspection and monitoring, oil well and rig inspection, and surveying and construction monitoring — at a significantly lower cost than ground, manned aircraft or helicopter inspection crews.

Read on to learn more about the leading uses of drones in the oil and gas sector.

Pipeline Inspection and Monitoring

By taking photos and videos of above-ground pipelines, drones allow inspectors in the field or engineers in a remote location to view pipes, either in real time or later. The operator can zero in on areas of concern to gather additional information and, if necessary, recommend that a ground crew visually check the area.

By examining the vegetation index, inspectors can identify specific areas of concern with DroneDeploy, catching leaks before they spread. Read the case study.

To detect potential underground leaks, drones take photos along pipeline routes. User-friendly software from DroneDeploy combines these images, creating high-resolution vegetation maps that identify plant kill-off zones, which may indicate a leak. Equipping a drone with an infrared camera provides an additional way to inspect pipelines: Thermal imagery of pipeline routes reveal hotspots, which may indicate potential defects in pipeline insulation or leaks invisible to the human eye.

Drone images also detect anomalies along a pipeline network or any encroachments, such as construction or roadwork, on a right-of-way that could threaten the integrity of the pipeline. In case of significant leaks, explosions or other emergency situations, drones provide real-time video to help emergency response teams assess the situation before sending in crews.

An operator inspects an oil well using drone POV goggles, while remaining safely on the ground. Photo courtesy of Bruin E&P Partners.Oil Well and Rig Inspection

O&G companies also use drones to photograph oil wells and offshore rigs throughout the initial drilling process. Once the well is operating, drones efficiently monitor operations. For example, they provide a close-up look at a flare stack while it’s in service. That provides a real benefit to the traditional approach: shutting down the flare system and assigning an inspector to climb the stack to examine it. In this case, a drone inspection saves weeks of physical inspection preparation and avoids significant loss of productivity and revenue due to an operational shutdown.

This drone-generated 3D model of oil storage tanks replaced helicopter imagery and saved $3500 over a five-month period. Read the full case study.

Drone inspections help companies prevent health and safety events (HSE), allowing them to address operational issues without sending employees into dangerous zones. Drones also provide easy surveillance of remote or hard-to-reach assets, such as storage tanks.

Drones are taking on an expanding role in both the oil exploration and construction stages.2 They survey prospective drilling locations and gather key data without the time and expense of traditional surveying methods. Once a well site is ready for development, drones deployed during the construction stage of wells, rigs, pipelines and refineries conduct crucial as-built surveys, allowing managers to keep track of a project’s progress and provide quality assurance of the build-outs.

Construction compliance officers use drone photos to compare actual conditions to pre-construction designs, as well as to detect and correct plan defects and deviations and spot any potential safety issues. This information also helps streamline decision-making throughout the project. Companies can even create, document and share a visual timeline with all stakeholders. Once construction is finished, drones provide a digital 3-D representation of structures to use as a baseline reference.

This orthomosaic drone map shows construction progress taking place on a well site. Map courtesy of Bruin E&P Partners.

Drones provide extremely precise aerial intelligence that simplifies and improves a wide range of O&G processes. Whether inspecting hundreds of miles of oil pipelines for leaks, helping employees keep operations in compliance with regulations or enabling companies to construct infrastructure more efficiently, agile and flexible UAVs have quickly become a go-to tool for operators around the world.

Product Release Wrap-Up January 2019Kick off the New Year with improved accuracy and AI tools from DroneDeploy

Since launching the Projects interface last month, our team has been busy implementing a series of new features to improve your team’s productivity and overall map accuracy in 2019.

Read on to learn more about new automated flight settings, map alignment capabilities, Autodesk export options, and a suite of AI tools now available to DroneDeploy customers.

The Joy of aligned maps in action over the course of a project.Align Maps Over Time — Instantly.

Comparing maps over time is one of the most common uses of DroneDeploy. But comparing the same areas can be tricky if the maps don’t line up. Unfortunately, GPS accuracy varies and maps of the same location can shift anywhere between 5–10 meters without the use of ground control points (GCPs).

To overcome this problem, we built a new solution into our proprietary Map Engine to align new maps with those previously made at the same location. As an added benefit, the absolute accuracy and scale of a map made with GCPs will improve the accuracy of future maps in the same area — meaning you can map more often with less effort and still get great results.

Use map alignment in conjunction with the “Side-by-Side” app, to see how things have changed on your site.

Automatic Map Alignment is now available to all paying DroneDeploy customers.

-

-

Filter and Sort Map Annotations

Have you ever had trouble finding the annotation or measurement that you’re looking for in a map with dozens or even hundreds of annotations? Or perhaps you’ve wanted to hide specific annotations and focus on those that are most important? New improvements to DroneDeploy annotations make both of these tasks possible.

Now you can view a list of all of the annotations on your map. You can then select or hide specific annotations, and you can even use the search and filter tools to look for specific annotations or annotation types.

Filter annotations by measurement type using the filter icon on the dashboard.Simplify GCP Tagging with Ground Control AI

For those times when absolute accuracy is required, efficient use of GCPs and checkpoints for mapping is extremely important. For the last six months, thanks to thousands of DroneDeploy customers tagging GCPs, we’ve trained our machine learning algorithms to automatically identify and geolocate the most popular types of GCP markers automatically.

Here are a few examples of the types of GCP markers that DroneDeploy can now detect and geolocate to save you time:

If some, or all of your GCPs are automatically identified, you’ll get a notification in the typical email workflow. You will notice that many of your GCPs are already tagged when you open the link.

Ground Control AI will continue to improve as you use it, and will learn from your corrections over time.

Once GCPs have been detected, you can finish selecting any additional GCPs that may be in the map.

Ground Control AI is now available to all Business and Enterprise customers.

Detect and Annotate Objects with Count AI

We launched our Counting tool last August. Since then, customers have annotated more than 360,000 objects. Uses include auditing solar panels, asset quantification, damage assessments, crop yield estimation, and more. With a significant amount of counting data under our belts, our team can now rapidly train our counting algorithms to detect and count custom objects for our enterprise customers.

Select an area and Count AI does the rest.

The first two object types we are supporting are cars and trees, but if your workflow requires counting any object series in your maps, sign up for our beta program today and contact your DroneDeploy Account Manager to learn more about this new feature.

Measuring stockpiles on construction sites, mines, and quarries is one of the most common use of DroneDeploy’s measurement tools. To speed up the stockpile measurement workflow, we developed our Stockpile AI assistant to annotate and measure stockpile volumes with a single click.

When you select the Stockpile AI icon, DroneDeploy will detect and highlight all stockpiles present on your map. You can then generate an instant volume measurement by selecting the stockpile you wish to measure. It’s that easy.

Once the volume annotation is created, it’s still possible to customize the stockpile boundary as you usually would. Keep in mind that like our other machine learning tools, your existing annotations and corrections power Stockpile AI — which will continue to improve the more you use it.

Stockpile AI is now available to all Enterprise customers.

Import Point Clouds from DroneDeploy to AutoDesk

Our construction customers have frequently asked to import drone-generated point clouds from DroneDeploy to AutoDesk Civil 3D, Revit, and Navisworks. We’re happy to announce this capability is now available in DroneDeploy.

To directly import your point cloud files to AutoDesk, choose the AutoDesk (.rcp) format when you export your next point cloud. The .rcp data will also include a .rcs point cloud as well. These new point cloud formats can be exported using all the local and custom coordinate systems we support for existing exports.